How to Fix Dead Grass After a Pool: Step-by-Step Guide

Nothing spoils a summer lawn quite like the dead patch left behind after taking down a temporary pool. All that weight and trapped moisture can leave your grass yellow, flattened, or completely dead. The good news? With a little effort, you can bring that area back to life and blend it seamlessly with the rest of your lawn. Here's exactly how to fix dead grass after a pool, step by step.

Backyard lawn with a large yellow dead patch left by a pool, being repaired with a scarifier on a sunny day.

Step 1: Remove the Dead Grass and Debris

Start by clearing away the problem area:

Rake thoroughly to lift out flattened, dead grass.
Remove any debris, leftover sand, or pool liner material.
If the soil smells sour or muddy, give it a day or two to dry out before moving on.

This cleanup ensures your new grass seed makes direct contact with the soil.

Step 2: Loosen and Aerate the Soil

Pool areas often suffer from compacted soil after weeks or months of heavy weight. That's where aeration or scarifying (also called vertical cutting) comes in:

Use a garden fork to poke holes and loosen the soil.
For larger areas, a dethatching rake or scarifier helps slice through the soil and break up compaction.
Mix in a thin layer of compost or topsoil if the ground looks tired or depleted.

Loosening the soil restores airflow, improves drainage, and gives grass roots room to grow.

Step 3: Reseed the Area

Once the ground is ready:

Spread grass seed that matches your existing lawn type.
Rake lightly to mix seeds into the top layer of soil.
Cover thinly with compost, peat moss, or straw to protect the seeds from drying out and birds.

For small patches, you can use a "lawn repair mix" that combines seed, starter fertilizer, and mulch.

Step 4: Water Gently and Consistently

Watering is crucial for seed germination:

Keep the soil evenly moist until seeds sprout (usually 1-3 weeks depending on grass type).
Use a fine spray or sprinkler-don't blast the seeds with strong water flow.
Once the new grass is a couple of inches tall, reduce watering frequency but increase depth.

Step 5: Mow and Maintain Carefully

Wait until new grass reaches 3-4 inches tall before mowing.
Set mower blades sharp and high to avoid pulling up young seedlings.
Avoid heavy foot traffic in the repaired area until the grass is fully established.

Quick Tips to Speed Up Recovery

Fertilize lightly with a starter fertilizer when reseeding.
Test your soil pH - pool water can sometimes alter soil conditions slightly.
Overseed surrounding areas if you want a more even look across the whole lawn.

Final Thoughts

Dead grass after a pool is a common summertime problem, but it's one you can easily fix with a bit of raking, scarifying, and reseeding. Within a few weeks, you'll see fresh green growth filling in the bare spot, and by next season, no one will be able to tell a pool was ever there.

How long does it take for grass to recover after removing a pool?

It usually takes 3-6 weeks for new grass to fully establish, depending on the season, the type of grass seed, and how well you water and care for the area. Warm weather and consistent moisture can speed up recovery.

Should I replace the soil under the pool before reseeding?

If the soil is very compacted or smells sour, it can help to remove the top 1-2 inches and replace it with fresh topsoil. In most cases, loosening the soil with a scarifier or garden fork and adding compost is enough to restore nutrients.

How do I prevent dead grass spots when I put up a pool again?

Place a tarp or ground cover under the pool, rotate the pool location each summer, and choose a pool base that allows some air circulation. Moving the pool slightly each season helps avoid long-term damage to the same patch of grass.